SLT Job Search

How are you all approaching your job search? What tips would you have? Happy to be sold to but I’ve been there before and can tell the good from the bad, and I will vet you if you choose to engage. I also struggle with people in the UK doing this as am led to believe paying people to aid your search in the UK is (illegal? Frowned upon?) but I also want to open up to European markets and am happy to relocate should it be a better QoL.

My last perm was £150k and £30k bonus.

Currently contracting at £700pd, with the wrong title but took what I could get.

I have a niche skillset within an area of technology, networks, security, compliance, supplier management, CSAT, large procurements. I’ve led >100 teams yet finding repeatable opportunities is tough. I could easily be a Head of IT/Tech or CTO. I can demonstrate delivery of large transformations, budget control >£100M and massive budget savings without large scale resource cut backs. I used to be harassed by recruiters pre-COVID and now I feel dark.

I’m starting my MBA later this year.

I don’t want to be posting on socials daily, I don’t see the return. I would consider using a strategic social media firm but they’d have to be creating the right content as me. I don’t want a video resume. I’ve used my network and as my career has grown my network is either my level or below, meaning they don’t know of the hires until their new boss is announced (which could have been me).

I’d like to work with the same 2-5 recruiters for my next 30 years of employment. Hopefully transition to NED prior to retirement age. They don’t have to be just UK and I love the UK and am not posting this to leave but more so I don’t know where these UK executive recruiters are. I’m happy not starting my own business as I don’t want to be selling, I’ll support sales but I don’t want it to be my need to survive through owning my own company.

Would anyone be willing to share how I go from where I am now to double my income? I love what I do. I have a real passion. I’ve not worked for someone that has the same energy or passion as I do in about a decade and I don’t mind my voice being the voice of reason but I find companies ask me to come in and fix a million things and then the moment I manage up or have to relay a strong position to protect the company and their spending things break down. This is a poor fit due to limited options.

Hoping not to get absolutely ruined here but I know there’s tech leaders out there earning millions in the UK, I just don’t see the path to get there and am genuinely considering sacrificing my HENRY and selling my home to secure a title for longevity and hiring due to title matching in the world of AI and poor recruiters. Had someone call me today and their company would be great if they can achieve their goals and the contract doesn’t pigeon hole me at the bottom while they hire above me - but money made them walk away.